Means for cleaning condensers and the like



' May 26, 1931. H. T. WEIS 1,807,457

MEANS FOR CLEANING CONDENSERS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 25. 1927 Henrg ZT T Vz's gwuemtow I abhor/wag Patented May 26, 1931 UNITED STAT S PATENT? OFFICE.

V HENRY T. WEIS, FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA MEANS FOR CLEANING CONDENSERS AND THE LIKE Application filed October 25, 1927. Serial No. 228,610.

has been found that it is a great inconvenience to take condensers out of service when by leaves, and other deposit, the circulation of the circulating water is out 01f, thereby destroying the action of the condenser.

In spite of screens and strainers, the problem of keeping circulating water clean and preventing clogging of the condensers is a real one, it being necessary in some plants to clean condensers every week. This means that the capacity of the condensers has to be, in such cases, one sixth greater than the operating capacity.

The primary objects of this invention toproduce a new apparatus to clean obstruc tions from tne water surface of condensers and the like where such water surfaces are opposite condensing surfaces.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means for forcing air and water into a condenser to remove obstructions from the metallic surfaces in contact with water as in the case of the inside water surfaces opposite the condensing surfaces.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means for cleaning condense whereby the deposit, on the tubes or surfaces in contact with the circulating water, may be removed by forcing air under pressure through the water and along the tube surface to be cleaned in such a manner that a swirling action is produced.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an .air jet or nozzle adjacent the tube ends of a condenser'and inside the wall thereof, the delivery end being so mounted as to be movable to positions whereby air under pressure may be delivered through the jet or nozzle to any one or more of a plurality of tubes, the air and water action cleaning the surface in contact with which the air and water comes.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of an air jet or nozzle adjacent the tube ends of a condenser or the like and inside of the outer wall thereof, the delivery end being so mounted as to be in position to deliver air pressure to tube ends at different levels and also to difierent tube ends on the same level.

Referring to the drawings where I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a condenser illustrating my invention attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is an end View of a portion of the end of a condenser showing my invention attached thereto.

Fig. 3 is a detail cross sectional view illustrating the construction of one forinof nozzle or jet.

In the drawings, designates the outer shell of a condenser; 11, the tubes thereof.

The main portion of the condenser has tube sheets 12 for securing the ends of the tubes 11 in place and to close the steam or condensing space 13. At the ends of the tube sheets 12 are circulating water compartments. At one end are two compartments divided by the bafiie plate 1d, the compartment 15 therebelow being for the incoming circulating water and the compartment 16 above being for the outgoing circulating water. The compartment 17 at the opposite end of the condenser has no baflie plate.

The circulating water compartments are closed by end plates 18, 19.

The circulating water enters at 20, passes through the compartment-15, the tubes 11 in.

the lower portion of the condenser, into the compartment 17 and out through the tubes 11 at the upper portion of the condenser, into the compartment 16 and outward through the outlet 21 to the discharge.

In the normal operation of the condenser, in spite of the well known preventive measures in use generally, leaves and other litter collect on the ends of the tubes. In the type of condenser illustrated, the leaves etc. will collect on the tube ends in the compartment 15 and on the tube ends in the upper portion of the chamber 17.

All of the above described structure of the condenser is old and well known in the art.

In order to effectively remove the leaves etc. from the tube ends, and to open up the passages for the circulating water, without Withdrawing the condenser from service, I have provided a means for introducing air under pressure adjacent the tube ends and preferably in a direction to cause a portion or all of the air to enter the tubes and pass therethrough. The action of the air travelling swiftly seems to be that it presents a repetition of walls of water against the sediment, thereby dislodging the same and forcing the particles to be carried through to the discharge. I believe the action of the water and air to be similar to the action of the water and air in a bottle when the bottle, half full of water, is shaken for the purpose of cleansing the bottle walls.

In carrying out my invention, I may use one or more nozzles or jets 30 mounted on a universal or ball connection comprising the inner or ball member 31 and the outer complementary bearing members 32, 33 which latter are suitably adjustably secured together as by the screw threads between the coacting bearing holding members 32 and 33, as shown in Fig. 3. The member 33'" is suitably screw threadedly connected to a plate 34, which latter may be a hand or man hole plate and is suitably bolted to the condenser end by the bolts 35.

The nozzle or jet 30 has a reduced end 36, the parts being so proportioned and so located that the delivery of the air under pressure from the end 36 will take place adjacent the tube ends. The rear end of the nozzle or jet 30 passes through the universal joint member 31 and is connected at 37 to an air hose or other source of high pressure air. I provide a valve 38 which is used to turn the air on or off at will.

On a condenser other than a small one,

. air hose connections connected to a main 39 which in turn is connected to a suitable air compressor not shown.

In operation, the condensers begin to show need for tube cleaning when the vacuum gage a taehed to the chamber 13 shows a drop in the vacuum due to th lack of circulation of the circulating water.

To clean the condenser of leaves, dirt etc., 't is only necessary to turn on the air pressure oy the valve 38 and by manipulation of the portion 40 of the nozzle connection, the nozzle or j t 30 may be moved and its end 36 pointed in any one of various directions covering an area of many vertical rows and many horizontal courses. The air under pressure emerges from the jet or nozzle end 36 and forces the leaves and dirt through the tubes.

As the nozzle is moved, preferably slowly, the air will be forced into the tubes. This action, since the end chambers 15, 16 and 17 are full of water, will force water along with the air as the latter enters the tubes. Due to the angularity of the jet or nozzle 30 with relation to the tube axes, the air with the water, will have a swirling action within the tubes. This swirling action of the air and water has been found to be very beneiicial in clearing the tubes of obstructions.

The amount of air pressure required depends upon the size and length of the tubes and the character of obstructions to be removed.

While I have described and illustrated in detail an embodiment of my invention, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to the eXact showing and that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:----

1. In combination, a surface condenser having water tubes and water chambers at the ends of the tubes, a plurality of openings in the end of one of the water chambers, closure devices for the openings, said closure devices each comprising a water tight universal joint and a jet member extending through and permanently sealed in the movable member of the universal joint.

2. In combination, a surface condenser having water tubes and water chambers at the ends of the tubes, a plurality of openings in the end of one of the water chambers, closure devices for the openings, said closure devices each comprising a water tight universal joint, a jet member extending through and permanently sealed in the movable member of the universal joint, an air supply pipe and a plurality of flexible air connections for connecting the air supply pipe to the respective jets.

3. In combination, a surface condenser having water tubes and water chambers at the ends of the tubes, a plurality of openings in the end of one of the water chambers, tubular members in the openings, two relatively adjustable joint members, one of the joint members having a fragmental spherical surface, a ball joint member having a surface complementary to the fragmental spherical surface and an air jet permanently sealed in the ball joint member, one of the adjustable joint members being adjustable relatively to the other and to the ball member to hold the complementary surface of the ball member tightly against the spherical surface of the joint members.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

HENRY T. WVEIS. 

